ICYMI – the A1 team edition

In case you missed it – Valencia vs. Real Madrid [2011-04-23, Liga jornada 33, 3-6].

Iker Casillas and Ricardo Carvalho were the only habitual starters who started this game against Valencia, but that didn’t matter one bit, as Madrid scored four goals before the half, and two more after.  It just goes to show how deep our bench is, and how reliable even those players who don’t get any regular playing time are.  And there were no injuries, no cards, no scares… I love this team!

ONE.  Despite the six goals that his team scored, Iker was quite upset with the three goals they conceded.  Here’s a compilation of Iker’s pissed-off faces and gestures from last night.

TWO.  Madrid was honored with a pasillo before the game, to congratulate them on their Copa del Rey win.  I like the poetic symmetry of it all – Madrid won this title at the Mestalla, and they coincidentally got to be honored for it on the same field.  Esteban Granero got a high-five from his best friend, our canterano (por favor) Juanín Mata, while Iker did the same with Spain teammate Pablo Hernández, and Eze with Argentina teammate Éver Banega.

The best headline regarding the pasillo came from Marca: “al final del pasillo… el baño.”  This can mean two things: “after the honor guard, a thrashing,” or taken literally (i.e. in non-sports terms), “at the end of the hallway, the bathroom.”

THREE.  I was very surprised to see Madrid turn up in two-color kits (black shirts, white shorts, black socks) for the first time in a long time.  I had wondered last week if they would ever do that a la Castilla, and they did!  They were the exact opposite of Valencia (white shirts, black shorts, white socks), the reason for this two-color kits, as they couldn’t wear the same color shorts as the other team and were obligated to change by the referee.  That meant that it looked like there were 20 penguins running around on the field.  And Cris’ substitution in was delayed because he was still wearing black shorts and so he had to change to the white (Mesut couldn’t believe his eyes!).

FOUR.  It was a real goal-fest at the Mestalla yesterday afternoon!  Just as good as the goals were the celebrations!  The guys were great in thanking those who assisted them!

Pipita ran to the bench to celebrate with them, while Kaká stuffed the ball under his shirt to honor his daughter who was expected that day or today.  And several hours later, she joined the world to cap off a perfect day for our Ricky!  All the details, via wife Carol’s twitter (the first time I’ve gone there since her coach tweet debacle from last season): Isabella was born on Saturday, April 23 at 21:01h, she weighed 3.170 kg and measured 48 cm, and Carol “enjoyed every pain and every minute” of the delivery.

Even Mou got a little excited, perhaps due to Rui’s influence.  And that celebration by Pipa looks quite painful for Kaká’s neck, no?

The Argentine bromance was in full swing after the fifth goal, and Ricky resembled his country’s famous Christ statue while celebrating the sixth.  Kaká actually received applause from the Mestalla for that one, from those who were still there, as part of the crowd started leaving after the 53rd minute, when Madrid took a 0-5 lead.  The six goals was the most Valencia had ever conceded in their 76 years and 1,200 games in the first division.

FIVE.  The other big event of the night was Nacho Fernández’s debut!  In difference with the six other canteranos who had debuted before him (MSFC, Mateos, Sarabia, Adán, MFC, Nacho’s hermanito) he didn’t just get a few moments at the end of a sentenced game, he got to start and play (almost) the entire thing!  He said after the game that he knew he was going to start this game, because “the míster had been hinting that to me all week.  Only he and I knew.”  That must be the dream of any canterano, no?  Sharing secrets with José Mourinho!  Nacho had problems with his left knee and so he left the game near the very end on a stretcher, which he blamed on “all the tension.”

It was very cute how Ricky Carvalho was watching over Nacho the entire game.  He was very attentive with his lieutenant, encouraging him, giving him advice, clapping when he did something well… Xabi’s not the only father out on the field!  And Mou said after the game that Nacho had “played like a veteran.”  I loved this moment when Mou asked Nacho if he wanted to be subbed out, but as Nacho said, “I didn’t hear him well.  He asked me and I was looking in the other direction.”

After the game, Nacho confessed that he was “súper feliz” and that his teammates had congratulated him.  He revealed that Álex had been very supportive all week, and told him to remain calm.  We also found out that Pipita had asked him if he wanted the game ball (as Pipita scored a hat trick, normally the ball would have gone to him) and Nacho said yes, so he got to have one souvenir from the game, as his shirt was destined for his family.  As you can see, it was the two biggest canterano cheerleaders, Marcelo and Pepe, who got the ball after the game and who made sure to congratulate Nacho.

His Castilla teammates were also very excited for him!  How cute are they???

SIX.  Late in the first half, Karim Benzema went down and was bleeding, but the play didn’t stop and so Karim just lay on the ground checking for blood.  Some seconds later, Ricky Carvalho went down, and then the play finally stopped.  At that point, Kaká pulled over Karim (I love how Kaká was dragging Karim along with him, instead of just running together) to show his injury to the referee.  He was all like, LOOK at him, he’s bleeding!  Isn’t Kaká a great dad?

SEVEN.  Cris and Xabi also got to play a few minutes to stretch their legs, I suppose, since the team had played very well without them.  Peter Lion also made his first appearance since Jan. 5 (vs. Levante in the Copa del Rey).

EIGHT.  Fun moments from the bench – Mesut judges Cris and Pipa gets high fives from Sergio C. and Antonio A.

NINE.  The Argentines show off.

TEN.  It was weird to see Cris warming up on the sidelines and coming in as a substitute!  He was also concerned about his hair, and did another “super jump.”

ELEVEN.  El Pirata is so photogenic, isn’t he?

TWELVE. I really want to know what message Antonio – apparently Mou’s favorite message boy – had for Iker.

THIRTEEN.  The Xabi Alonso pose section.™

Xabi’s a pro at making sure that all eyes are on him, whether by sticking his tongue out or executing a perfect runway turn.

He was so boss even on the bench.  And I loved how he and childhood teammate/friend Aritz Aduriz hugged while warming up on the sidelines!

FOURTEEN.  The Mou corner.

Mou was quite relaxed during the postgame press conference, probably due to the fantastic play of his team and the stellar result.  He showed his satisfaction with – in his own words – “Operación Valencia,” or the two games in the city in the space of three days: “we were fantastic today, just like we were against Athletic in San Mamés.  The most important thing was the three points and until the math says that the Liga is impossible, we will continue until the end.  If Barça wins the Liga, it will be because they won more points, not because we handed it to them.”

(Loving this moment between Mou and Gonzalo!)

He also praised Kaká, saying he was “fantastic,” and “there are seven or eight games left and we need Kaká.”  Mou added that “I want to send a hug not only to Nacho but to all his teammates as well.”

I also loved what Unai Emery (Valencia’s coach) said after the game: “we played ridiculously; the pasillo lasted until the 60th minute.”

FIFTEEN.  Looking ahead:

The team began thinking about the Champions League semifinals today, during their training session this morning at 11h.

Meanwhile, Castilla faces Montañeros today at 17h as they seek to extend their 15-game non-losing streak.  It will be a difficult game, as there are some notable absences.  MFC, MSFC and Fran Rico are all suspended, Jesús and Luis are injured, and Nacho can’t play because he played with the first team (Juanfran can, because he didn’t play).  Alberto Toril has thus called up reinforcements from some of the other teams: RMC’s Óscar Plano and Juvenil A’s Jesé.